BEING part of a relegation dog fight is just as exciting as playing in a promotion play-off final, according to Macclesfield's loose-head prop Scott Goodfellow.

As a first-team regular for the last eight years and having played in the County Championship final at Twickenham for Cheshire, Goodfellow has certainly experienced most of the ups and downs that the 15-man game has to offer.

But now, aged 35, Goodfellow is relishing the Blues' current survival campaign and is more than happy to be back at the sharp end in the front row after missing five games over the festive period.

He said: "It was great to win again on Saturday. We're starting to gel as a team now. I've definitely got the bug again. We've got seven games to go and with playing the likes of Leicester Lions, Kendal and New Brighton, we can really look forward to playing some exciting games with everything to play for. It's as important to stay up in this league as it is trying to get promoted out of it."

Goodfellow was quoted last summer as saying that this season 'would be his last', but the recent upturn in form and the emergence of promising young players through the Priory Park ranks was more than enough to force the fork-lift truck operator into rethinking his decision.

"Things are looking really good for next season with the team coming together now," added Goodfellow.

"If we keep the squad together then I think we have every chance of being a massive force next season.

"Also the young lads such as Craig Williams, Alex Donaldson and Scott Harrison are maturing into good players and I'd like to be there to give them some advice from the times when I was a youngster.

"I remember getting battered week-in week-out when I was learning the game in the forwards. But the best way to learn is by playing and learning from your mistakes and also from what opposition players do to you!

"If the coaching staff next season asked me to lend a hand then I'd be more than happy to help out, especially with the props and front-row players who are coming through."

Macclesfield will be without influential fly-half Ross Winney for Fylde's swift return to Priory Park this weekend as he is on best-man duties in Middlesborough. Otherwise Dave Muckalt and Steve Rule should be able to field a full-strength side.